Seacoast and a Mountain
Maine's Atlantic seacoast it s wonder of rocky cliffs, surging tides, mud flats,
and stoney beaches. A day's drive beginning 47 miles south of Bangor leads you to
fine coastal adventures, around the highest mountain on the Atlantic Coast of North
America, and through small fishing villags where time seems to stand still. The
centerpiece of this drive is Maine's only national park. A day won't be enough.
Mount Desert Island
The Acadia region of Maine stretches from Penobscot Harbor to Goldsborough Bay,
with hundreds of islands, small harbors, and headlands, with rolling hills in the
interior. As you drive south from Bangor, toward this scenic coastline, you'll come
to Ellsworth, the commercial center of the region. You leave Ellsworth, continuing
south toward the ocean, and cross to Mount Desert Island.
Here, glaciers have carved lakes and valleys out of the underlying granite. Evergreens
are scattered across the island, set on small sections of land surrounded by rocky
outcroppings, with small lakes dotting the landscape. This is a summer and winter
destination, excellent for summer camping and exploring the coastline, and also
for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling in wintertime.
There are a dozen communities on the island. Southwest Harbor offers a collection
of cozy B and B inns and homes. Bar Harbor is the main recreation-oriented town,
located on Maine Highway 3. You'll find modern shopping places here, along with
cultural activities and a range of motels and bed and breakfast homes. Ten miles
north of Bar Harbor is the campus of the University of Maine, in Orono. For more
information on Bar Harbor and vicinity, write the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce,
P.O. Box 158, Bar Harbor ME 04609, or call (207) 288-5103.
Acadia National Park
Thundering surf, granite ridges meeting the sea, the highest east-coast mountain,
woods, little lakes ringed with wildflowers, and the wonder of seeing the magical
sun as it approaches the shores of America. This is Acadia, a national park made
up of more than a dozen sites, all in a region with small, picturesque seaside villages
and offshore islands.
From the peak of Cadillac Mountain, you'll have the perfect New England vista, the
coastline, as far as you can see, lovely little islands scattered across Frenchman
Bay. that thrilling sunrise, blueberries, and wildflowers.
For just about the most unusual park tour available anywhere, take a local mail
boat to Isle au Haut or, better still, a tour boat to Baker Island. On the outbound
cruise you'll see ospreys and seals. And, on the island, you'll walk through an
eerie birch forest, and spot many song and water birds. Spring and fall are the
ideal months for exploring the Maine coast.
Walk, cycle, or ride a horse on the old carriage paths built by John D. Rockefeller
after he had decided that the new automobile would ruin the area's ecology. The
paths offer wonderful access to a waterfall, and a pond&emdash;with loons. The
park also has 120 miles of walking and hiking trails, including trails leading to
Cadillac and Dorr mountains. Less traveled is Schoodic Peninsula, where granite
laced with volcanic magma is splashed with surf. Walk from the peninsula (at low
tide) to nearby Little Moose Island, and an intertidal zone, with myriad sea creatures
in rocky pools.
The park's main visitor center is located near Bar Harbor, on Maine Highway 3, just
south of Hull's Cove. Two campgrounds are available, with a 14-day limit.
Entrance Fee: $5 per car.